The National Anthem Bill 2024, which reinstates the previous national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee,” has been signed into law by President Bola Tinubu today, May 29, 2024, to mark his one year in office.
The former anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee,” which was written on October 1, 1960, the day Nigeria earned independence, has taken the place of “Arise, O Compatriots.”
Recall that the bill to change the national anthem from “Arise, O Compatriots” to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was previously approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives during different sessions.
At a joint session of the National Assembly on today to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated, “This morning, Mr. President signed into an Act of Parliament, the newly passed National Anthem 2024.”
Tinubu, who later joined the joint session, confirmed ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’ as the new national anthem.
Noting that the President would not be giving a speech because he must depart to inaugurate the Abuja metro line, Akpabio explained that the main purpose of the gathering was to introduce the new national anthem.
Following the signing of the bill by the President to reinstate the old anthem, the joint sitting abandoned what has been in existence since 1978, to embrace the former (and recently signed) national anthem ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’.
The melody for “Nigeria, we hail thee” was composed by Frances Berda, while the words were written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria until its independence.
Throughout the 1960s and the latter part of the 1970s, the anthem was crucial in forming Nigeria’s national identity and cohesion.
If you were wondering what the returned old national anthem’s lyrics look like, we have it written down for you below;
Nigeria, we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Though tribe and tongue may differ,
In brotherhood, we stand,
Nigerians all, and proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign,
In peace or battle honour’d,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.
O God of all creation,
Grant this our one request,
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed,
And so with peace and plenty
Nigeria may be blessed.
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